Traditional Irish Instruments
The Main Irish instruments are Flute, Fiddle, Tin Whistle, Low Whistle, Uilleann Pipes, Accordion, Concertina, Bodhrán and Harp. Nowadays however, Guitar, Bouzouki, Mandolin, Banjo, Harmonica and Piano are commonly heard playing Irish music. From a listening viewpoint, it's best to split them into groups depending on how similar they are.
Flute/Tin Whistle/Low Whistle
These 3 are similar in that they are wind instruments with similar fingering, but they each have their own timbre (sound).
Most people are familiar with the Tin Whistle. It sounds shrill, thin and high pitched. Top performers include; Geraldine Cotter and Seán Potts.
Flute/Tin Whistle/Low Whistle
These 3 are similar in that they are wind instruments with similar fingering, but they each have their own timbre (sound).
Most people are familiar with the Tin Whistle. It sounds shrill, thin and high pitched. Top performers include; Geraldine Cotter and Seán Potts.
The Low whistle is just another tin whistle, but larger. This results in the sound being lower in pitch and more mellow than the smaller whistle. Many pipers play the low whistle as the large stretches between the holes are very similar to the stretches between the holes on the chanter of the Pipes. Davey Spillane of Moving Hearts excels at both Pipes and Low Whistle
The Accordion is a bellows operated, free reed, diatonic instrument on which the melody notes are articulated by buttons or keys operated by the right hand, bass notes by those on the left. Each button is designed to activate from 2 to 4 reeds. The accordion spread to Ireland late in the 19th century. Modern Irish accordion players generally prefer the 2 row button accordion. Unlike similar accordions used in other European and American music traditions, the rows are tuned a semi-tone apart. This allows the instrument to be played chromatically in melody. Currently accordions tuned to the keys of B/C and C#/D are by far the most popular systems. Notable players include Joe Cooley, Martín O'Connor and Sharon Shannon.
The piano accordion became highly popular during the 1950s and has flourished to the present day in céilí bands and for old time Irish dance music.
The piano accordion became highly popular during the 1950s and has flourished to the present day in céilí bands and for old time Irish dance music.
The Concertina is a Hexagonal, button operated, free reed, bellows blown instrument played with the fingers of both hands. It has 1 reed per note. The main variety of Concertina in use in Irish music is the "Anglo". It is single action - each button has a different note on press and draw (2 notes per button) thirty of them arranged in 3 rows of 5 on each side, all the melody notes divided between the hands. The sound of the Concertina is thinner and less rich than the Accordion. Joe Hill is a top Concertina player.
The Fiddle is one of the most important instruments in the traditional repertoire of Irish music The fiddle itself is identical to the violin. however it is played differently in widely-varying regional styles. Sligo fiddlers like Michael Coleman did much to popularise Irish music in the States in the 1920s Irish fiddle is direct with little use of vibrato except for slow airs. Vibrato is used sparingly. Sligo fiddlers generally used more ornamentation than others. They played very quickly and flowing with slurred bows. The fiddle playing of Sligo man Michael Coleman had a strong influence over all the country, not just Sligo.
In Donegal, there was an emphasis on dexterity of bowing, with very even rhythms, mostly single bows creating an unmistekable staccato sound. -Tommy Peoples
West Clare produced a more rhythmically accented single bowed style.
West Limerick/North Kerry contains the strongest marked rhythm of these 4 styles.
Sliabh Luachra- Extensive range of Polkas and Slides. Unique style of bowing can also be heard in their reels.
East Galway - known for it emphasis on melody.
Contermporary performers of fiddle include Zoe Conway who mixes traditional playtechniques with Classical
In Donegal, there was an emphasis on dexterity of bowing, with very even rhythms, mostly single bows creating an unmistekable staccato sound. -Tommy Peoples
West Clare produced a more rhythmically accented single bowed style.
West Limerick/North Kerry contains the strongest marked rhythm of these 4 styles.
Sliabh Luachra- Extensive range of Polkas and Slides. Unique style of bowing can also be heard in their reels.
East Galway - known for it emphasis on melody.
Contermporary performers of fiddle include Zoe Conway who mixes traditional playtechniques with Classical